Mixed reception for waste scheme

BENDIGO residents are yet to be completely sold on the benefits of the city’s planned organic waste collection program.

City of Greater Bendigo Council announced earlier this month that it would trial kerbside collection of food scraps and other organic material in 2800 homes in parts of Kennington, Strathdale, East Bendigo, White Hills and North Bendigo.

Several Bendigo residents have contacted the Bendigo Advertiser with their concerns about the program. 

Primary concerns included the length of time between collections and difficulty in storing three bins in in smaller homes.

General waste collection will be reduced to fortnightly in the trial sites from September. The green bins and existing recycling bins will also be collected fortnightly.

Residents have complained that two weeks will be too long for items such as nappies to be left sitting in general waste bins, particularly during the hot summer months. 

Council waste services manager Simon Clay said he appreciated residents’ concerns but that councils in NSW had successfully run similar fortnightly general waste collection programs without problems.

“In most cases, those concerns about smells haven’t eventuated,” he said.

Mr Clay said residents concerned about nappies could bag or double bag the nappies in nappy bags before disposal to minimise odours. Smelly organic waste such as seafood could be frozen until the night before collection, he said. 

“If it does turn out to be a significant issue [during the trial], we will take that on board and see if we need to change anything,” he said. 

Bendigo man Ron Pateman said he didn’t want or need an extra bin. 

Mr Pateman said he only filled his existing bins every three or so weeks.

He said the council should have consulted with residents to gauge whether there was sufficient demand to justify the program.

“There are a lot of units around with just one or two people in them – they’ll be lucky to fill the bins every month,” he said.

Mr Pateman said he did not want to see his rates increase as a result of the scheme.

“If I’m not going to be using it, I don’t want to have to be paying for it,” he said. 

Kennington resident Helen Steele received her new bins on Thursday. She gave the program her full support. 

Ms Steele already has a compost system but said the new bins gave her an opportunity to dispose of organic waste such as meat scraps and bones which she can’t get rid of herself in an environmentally friendly way. 

Ms Steele said she often filled her bins quickly, particularly after mowing the lawn or gardening. A dedicated organic waste bin would cut down on the need for neighbours to share their bin space, she said.

For more information about the organic waste collection scheme see the City of Greater Bendigo’s website or call 5454 9523.